Rethinking Design Education: How Computational Design and Digital Fabrication Are Shaping the Future of Architecture in India

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“Do not make education your career before you have a career.”

– Ar. Sushant Verma

This quote reflects not just a philosophy, but a warning against the growing trend of opportunistic education models in architecture and design. Education should be a responsibility, not a fallback. And that ethos underlines the work done by rat[LAB]EDUCATION and SmartLabs over the last decade.

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Over the past decade, a silent but powerful shift has transformed the landscape of architectural education in India. At the heart of this change lies a convergence of computational design, digital fabrication, and a renewed approach to teaching architecture and design as a dynamic, logic-driven, and future-ready discipline. Leading this movement is architect, technologist, and educator Ar. Sushant Verma, founder of rat[LAB]EDUCATION and SmartLabs, whose pioneering efforts have redefined how thousands of young architects and designers think, design, and build.

The Rise of Computational Design in Indian Academia

In 2015, when Ar. Sushant Verma returned to India after global exposure in design education and practice, computational design was still a nascent idea in the Indian academic realm. The term itself was misunderstood or underutilized. Most institutions reduced digital design to 3D modeling software and digital fabrication to machines like 3D printers and robotic arms — without the foundational understanding of logic-based design workflows.

rat[LAB]EDUCATION was born out of a need to shift this narrative — to make computational design accessible, scalable, and deeply integrated into the Indian design education ecosystem. Through workshops, summer and winter schools, public lectures, and the Global Visiting School (held across India, UK, Italy, Belarus, Philippines, and more), rat[LAB]EDU popularized what was then a niche area into a new standard for academic innovation.

The SmartLabs Model: Compressing a Master's into Six Months

In 2017, the launch of SmartLabs took the movement to the next level. Designed as an intensive six-month hybrid program, SmartLabs was envisioned to simulate a full master’s experience in computational design, condensing years of content into a focused, immersive, and highly practical journey.

With over 230+ graduates across 10 batches, SmartLabs has become the go-to programme for architects, interior designers, and industrial designers looking to dive into computational design, parametric design, digital fabrication, and AI in architecture. Participants get hands-on exposure to Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper3D, Maya, Midjourney, 3D printing, robotics, CNC milling, environmental simulation tools, and now AI-powered design workflows. Each batch culminates in live exhibitions, collaborative installations, and project showcases that simulate real-world architectural and fabrication challenges.

The Mindset Shift: Two Tiers of Learning

One of the most critical learnings from Ar. Sushant Verma’s pedagogy is that meaningful design learning happens in two distinct tiers:

• Macro Exposure: where learners experience a wide spectrum of tools, design approaches, and fabrication techniques.

• Micro Immersion: where they identify 2-3 workflows that resonate with their interest and delve deep into them.

This approach has helped thousands of young professionals avoid the trap of superficial learning. "Waiting to learn on the job is a myth," Verma says. "You rarely get the bandwidth in practice to explore new tools. The academic stage is when your learning curve is sharpest. Use that time wisely."

A Word of Caution: On Opportunistic Education

In a time when the education space is saturated with short-term, profit-driven design workshops and copied curriculums, Verma offers a blunt reminder:

“Do not make education your career before you have a career.”

This quote, now widely associated with his educational vision, critiques the growing number of professionals who turn to teaching design technologies without sufficient real-world experience.

"Education isn’t a fallback. It’s a responsibility," he says. "We’ve seen a disturbing trend of people creating workshops as business models rather than as learning platforms. That dilutes the purpose of computation in design."

Blending Logic with Craft: Computation and Materiality

Another myth Verma often addresses is the assumption that computational design must align with certain materials. "Computation is about logic, not materials," he says. Yet, at art[LAB], the studio arm that merges art with advanced fabrication, they've worked with clay, mirror, stone, wood, and solid surfaces using CNC milling, waterjet cutting, laser cutting, and vacuum forming. The result? Beautiful integrations of the tactile and the digital — without conflating the two.

Project Spotlight: SmartLabs Batch 9

Among the many impactful collaborations, SmartLabs Batch 9 stands out. Students collaborated with rat[LAB] Studio to create façade systems and large-scale art installations through digital design and fabrication. These outputs weren’t just academic exercises; they were built, exhibited, and now inform real-world work across studios. Graduates from SmartLabs are now leading design technology initiatives in studios, institutions, and independent practices.

Future Skills: What Architects Need to Learn Now

Looking ahead, Verma emphasizes that the next decade will demand:

• Computational thinking

• Proficiency in tools like Rhino, Grasshopper, Maya, and AI design platforms

• Real-world fabrication knowledge

• Early AI integration

"AI is already shaping geometry and logic systems. Those who adapt early will lead design futures," he notes.

Workshops & Learning Opportunities

rat[LAB]EDUCATION offers a wide variety of learning modules, including:

• Workshops on Parametric Design using Grasshopper3D & Rhinoceros

• AI in Architecture and Design Thinking

• Digital Fabrication Masterclasses (CNC, 3D printing, Robotics)

• Visualization with Maya, Midjourney, and V-Ray

• SmartLabs 6-Month Programme (Hybrid)

To know more, collaborate, or join a program:

Email: education@rat-lab.org

Website: www.rat-lab.org/education

Instagram: @ratlabeducation

Designing the Future, Responsibly

What started as a one-man mission to demystify parametric design has now evolved into a national and global movement. The work of Ar. Sushant Verma and the rat[LAB]EDU ecosystem is not just about keeping up with the future — it’s about building it responsibly. Through ethics-driven education, research-based pedagogy, and global collaboration, computational design is no longer a specialty. It is becoming the foundation.

And in that future, education isn’t a business. It’s a legacy.